Monday, May 27, 2002

He may come across as a quasi-pacifist at times, but columnist Mitch Albom's Memorial Day 2001 column is poignant one year later:

Fiske keeps up with several Japanese veterans. He has asked their forgiveness, and they have asked for his. Last week, at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the 80-year-old bugler lifted the mouthpiece to his lips and blew taps one more time. "I believe in defending the United States," he says, "but if you think war is going to solve anything, it isn't." And he's right. Taking pride is good. But Fiske knows this: On Memorial Day, the best way to honor those who have died in wars is to scratch away at the hatred that starts them.http://www.freep.com/sports/albom/mitch27_20010527.htm